Gemcitabine can cause a thrombotic microangiopathy, having been reported at an incidence of 0.31% according to a paper by Humphreys et al (in Cancer 2004). It should be considered in any cancer patient receiving this medication with new onset renal failure, hypertension, or thrombocytopenia.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
gemcitabine-induced thrombotic microangiopathy
Another oncologic medication with a specific renal side effect is gemcitabine (Gemzar), a nucleoside analogue used with frequency to treat cancer of the lung, pancreas, breast and colon to name a few.